Page 50 of Dr. Billionaire's Fake Marriage

I exhale as I wait for her to tell me the story.

"Your father used to be best friends with Troy's father. He was older than your father, but they were friends, more like brothers." Mother pauses. "They went to medical school together and came out as promising young doctors, seeking to build the biggest hospital in Wallace. Your father had the brains; he drew up the plans and sought investors, but David, Troy's father, had other plans. At that time, he met Quinn, Troy's mother, a beautiful young girl from one of the wealthiest families in town."

"So, he married her for her money and investment potential?" I cut into Mother's story, and she nods in response.

“But Quinn had other plans. She told David she would only marry him if he became the sole owner of the hospital. David could only think of one thing-”

I stop Mother again. "To get rid of my father?"

“Yes,” Mother replies. “They offered your father money, and plenty of it.”Just like Mrs. Robinson is offering me money now!

My heart is beating fast as I ask, "Did he take it?"

Mother shakes her head. "No, he didn't take the money, but he disappeared a few weeks later," Mother says, almost breaking into tears. "He just left the house, and he never came back."

I lean in to take Mother's hand. "Do you think they have something to do with my father's disappearance?" I ask. Mother nods.

"When I knew you were working at the hospital, I thought this was the best chance to get what they had taken from us."

I place my head on her shoulder as she weeps, but her nurse arrives to warn me that it isn't healthy to make her weep at this stage of her recovery.

I allow the nurse to take her away. My phone rings when Mother is out of sight. The caller is Mrs. Robinson; she wants to talk to me at her house.

***

"The offer is still on the table," Mrs. Robinson says, "…ten million dollars to stay away from my family."

I raise my eyebrows in surprise.

"You mean to stay away from your son?" Mrs. Robinson's shoulders drop, but she fakes a smile. "If I don't take the offer, what will you do?" I ask. "Make me disappear like you made my father disappear?"

Mrs. Robinson takes a step closer. "Whatever I did," she says, "I did for my children. When you give birth, you will understand what a mother has to do for her children."

I chuckle, "You mean to make someone else's father disappear to give your children a good life?" I raise my voice. "So that you could live in luxury while I struggled to survive with my mother? Did you care about the daughter George Howard had and how they had to live after he disappeared?"

I pause to catch my breath. "You are not a mother…you are a monster." I motion to leave but stop, turning to see her flushed face.

“For the record,” I say, “I am not leaving Troy for a billion dollars.”

I hear Mrs. Robinson sigh as I walk out of her presence to see Troy's car parked in the garage. He beeps the horn at me to stop, but I refuse to answer.

I keep walking to the gate, but Troy runs faster to match my pace. He eventually gets to me, grabbing me by the hand and demanding to know what is happening.

"What the hell is going on?" he asks, releasing my arm as I whimper in pain. He apologizes but still demands to know why I keep having ongoing conversations with his mother. "Please tell me, "He begs, "what is going on? I beg you."

I look away, but Troy's hand turns my face to his. "Look at me while you speak," he begs, "and tell me what is going on."

“Your mother is offering me money to disappear from your life,” I begin, “but I am going nowhere.”

Troy frowns, disappointed in his mother, but asks me instead, "What makes you think Mother knows where your father is?"

Troy is angry, and from how he rubs his mouth, I can tell he is angry. "Is it true, then? You are here to avenge your father; you planned all of this! Coming into this family, my life, and marrying me were all plans to do that! Huh?"

I scoff. "How dare you blame me," I say. "I had no idea my father was your father's friend until last night when your mother came at me with the same accusation." I chuckle. I can't believe this is happening right before my eyes. "Was that why you were distant at the house and at the party? Do you think I am some spy agent for my father? I had no idea this was happening, I have never seen my father in my life, and I haven’t faked anything, Troy."

"Fuck!" I hear Troy curse. "Camile!" he calls to me, but I walk away before he can say another word.

Troy doesn't run after me; he goes home while I try to get a taxi home.

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